Chance to call plays lures Dennison away

Now former Broncos offensive line coach Rick Dennison said it was a chance to call plays for the Houston Texans that lured him away from the organization he’s been a part of for 24 seasons as a player and assistant coach.

“It’s one of those things that really tugs at you,’’ Dennison said. “I’m a Colorado guy – I wasn’t born here, but I’ve spent a lot of my life here – and it’s been a long time with an organization. It’s really, really hard to not be associated with the Broncos.’’

“That made it hard, but this opportunity, to get a chance to work with (Texans head coach) Gary (Kubiak), I don’t know how many times something like that is going to come around. I thought I better jump at on it if it’s at all possible and it’s possible.’’

Dennison interviewed with Kubiak Monday in Houston and returned to Colorado with a contract offer in hand. After mulling the decision with his family, Dennison informed Kubiak Tuesday afternoon he would take the job.

He replaces Kyle Shanahan, who left the Texans to join his father on the Washington Redskins staff. Dennison also interviewed for the Broncos head coaching job when Josh McDaniels was hired.

“I am very excited about (calling plays), it’s something that’s going to be a big challenge certainly,’’ Dennison said. “I’m not saying it’s a drop in a bucket by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s something that I’ve hope to do, and it will make me grow, make me stretch.’’

Mike Klis has been with The Denver Post since 1998, after working 13 years with the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. Major League Baseball was Klis' initial passion. He started covering the Colorado Rockies after Coors Field was approved for construction in August 1990.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times. She has reported regularly on the Broncos since joining the staff.

A published author and award-winning journalist, Benjamin Hochman is a sports columnist for The Denver Post. He previously worked on the staff of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, winners of two Pulitzer Prizes for their Hurricane Katrina coverage.